True prayer is not restricted by time or place, but is accessible to all believers in Christ. While designated times and places can aid in fostering discipline and consistency in prayer, they are not prerequisites for acceptable prayer. There is a distinction between genuine Christian prayer and the practices of heathens and Papists. Heathens and infidels pray to false gods or unknown deities, while Papists introduce mediation through saints and rely on rituals and merit-based prayers, which deviate from true Christian piety. Sincere prayer is rooted in faith in Christ, where believers approach God in faith, seeking His grace and mercy. This understanding aligns with the teachings of the New Testament, emphasizing the centrality of Christ in prayer and the importance of a genuine relationship with God. Pastor answers a question at [26:15] regarding the meaning of the term "ex opere operato". This is followed by a discussion of the question at [29:30], "Should one pray to saint who have died"?

Key points in this teaching regarding prayer are:

1. Command from God: Prayer is not just a spiritual exercise but a command from God. Neglecting prayer is considered a sin.

2. Response to Life's Trials: Prayer is a response to recognizing our inability to handle life's trials and burdens on our own.

3. Common to All Believers: Prayer is common to all members of Christ, signifying a connection to God as their Father.

4. Training for Piety: Prayer serves as training for all piety, nourishing and preserving spiritual gifts like repentance, faith, patience, comfort, and hope. Persistent prayer increases these gifts, while ceasing prayer leads to their gradual diminishment.

5. Benefits of Devout Prayer: Devout prayer has boundless benefits and abundant fruits. It is approached with intentionality and often involves bodily expressions like kneeling, folding hands, bowing the head, and closing the eyes.

6. Trinitarian Involvement: God the Father embraces believers with love in Christ, making it pleasing and acceptable to approach Him in prayer. Christ acts as the mediator, interceding for believers before the Father, while the Holy Spirit kindles zeal for prayer and intercedes for believers.

7. Defense Against Temptation: Neglecting prayer opens the door to various temptations. Regular prayer serves as a spiritual defense against sin and temptation.

8. Encouragement to Persevere: Despite challenges or feelings of unworthiness, believers are encouraged to pray without ceasing, relying on God's promises and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Overall, prayer is portrayed as a vital aspect of the Christian life, essential for spiritual growth, communion with God, and defense against temptation.

This teaching emphasizes the centrality of prayer in the Christian life, mentioning the benefits of praying aloud. Various forms of prayer are given in some detail. Sincere, repentant, and faithful prayers are contrasted with wordy and eloquent prayers. Praying to God the Father, through the Son, is compared to praying directly to either the Son or to the Holy Spirit. Persevering in prayer, despite our limitations and weaknesses, is a significant takeaway.

This teaching by Pastor Rhode focuses on two topics: confession and absolution within the context of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) as well as prayer. Here's an outline of the confession and absolution section:

1. Critique of Auricular/Spoken Confession in Roman Catholicism: Described as a legalistic. A requirement that tortures consciences and is out of harmony with the Word of God. Individuals are pressured to confess all mortal sins to a priest for forgiveness, which can lead to anxiety and fear.

2. Threefold Distinction of Confession as described in Holy Scriptures:

Confession to God, Confession for Reconciliation with Neighbor, and Confession Prior to Baptism. 3. Retention of Confession in the LCMS: This discussion is particular to and concerning admission to the Lord's Supper. The importance of confessing repentance and faith to the pastor before participating in communion is highlighted.

4. Purpose of Confession and Doctrinal Examination: Includes exploring whether individuals seeking admission to the Lord's Supper are moved by true repentance. More precisely what is their understanding about sin, repentance, and faith. When discussed with a pastor, this serves as an opportunity for pastors to inquire about individuals' beliefs and provide further instruction.

In the second half of this teaching. Pastor Rhode underscores the significance of prayer as a duty mandated by God for Christians. He draws upon Martin Luther's teachings that stress prayer to be consistent prayer. It is crucial and failing to do so is a violation of God's commandment. Moreover, Luther highlights God's promise to hear prayers. The Lord's Prayer as a blueprint for believers. Forms of prayer can include petition, confession, thanksgiving, and praise. Both spontaneous and written prayers are discussed. The richness of written prayers, particularly the Psalms, can provide heartfelt communication with God. Even silence before God can serve as a form of prayer, especially in moments when words fail or when one seeks closeness to God. In essence, Pastor Rhode encourages believers to embrace prayer as a multifaceted and essential aspect of their relationship with God.

Individual or private absolution is discussed.

The subjects of absolution, forgiveness of sin by God to believers, forgiveness between believers, impenitence, excommunication, and the office of the keys are among the subjects covered. The "keys of the kingdom of heaven" in Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:15-20, and John 20:19-23, are the authority given by Christ to the Church, specifically to forgive sins and retain them. In Matthew 16, Peter is given the keys, representing the ministry of the Word through which sins are bound or loosed. Matthew 18 emphasizes the importance of reconciliation within the Christian community and the authority to bind or loose sins. John 20 depicts Jesus granting the disciples the power to forgive sins. This was done by Christ breathing on them and saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This teaching highlights the responsibility of Church through the Pastoral Office to proclaim forgiveness and administer absolution through confession, emphasizing repentance and reconciliation and peace with God.

The initial 45 minutes of the session provide recommendations for books to explore once the current book concludes. We will "vote" in two weeks. The teaching on the Lord's Supper and the Sacrament of Absolution begins at the 38-minute mark of this session. The following is emphasized. It is crucial to approach the Lord's Supper with inward reverence, understanding that Christ's real presence is in the elements. The "keys of the kingdom of heaven" refer to the ministry of the Word, through which sins are either bound or loosed. This authority is given to the Church, which exercises absolution or lack of absolution based on genuine repentance and faith. This authority within the Church is primarily exercised through the pastoral office, which acts on behalf of Christ. Absolution is granted to the penitent, while withholding forgiveness is administered to the impenitent or unbelieving, following biblical principles and divine guidance.

This session delves deeper into the significance of the Lord's Supper and communion in Christianity, highlighting God's grace in welcoming believers back into His covenant despite their weaknesses and sins. Drawing parallels from the Prodigal Son parable, it emphasizes that communion not only brings forgiveness but also strengthens and rejuvenates faith. The sacrament promotes mutual love and unity among Christians and should be approached with reverence and understanding to avoid negative spiritual consequences. Overall, the Lord's Supper is portrayed as a source of comfort, strength, and joy that connects believers intimately with Christ and fellow believers in the body of Christ.

The questions covered in the book this week explore the significance of the Lord's Supper in the Lutheran tradition, emphasizing its role in strengthening faith, offering personal assurance of forgiveness, and combating spiritual complacency. Pastor Rhode discusses historical practices related to communion, addresses misconceptions about worthiness, and underscores the sacrament's importance in nurturing believers' relationship with God. The Roman Catholic practice of "sacrificing the mass" is discussed in detail.